Track-torpedo.



H. W. KELLY.

, TRACK TORPEDO. APPLICATION FILED 020.3. 1915.

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HUG-H WILLIAMSON KELLY, 0F TRENTON, NET/V JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF'10 AUBREY LOVE, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

TRACK-TORPED O.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. a, fair.

Application filed December 3, 1915. Serial No. 64,869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH WILLIAMSON KELLY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Trenton, Mercer county, New Jersey, haveinvented certain Improvements in Track-Torpedoes, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to track torpedoes; and the object of my'inventionis to provide a torpedo with a simple form of rail attaching meanshighly efficient in operation, and one that is cheap to manufacture.

One object of my invention is to provide a torpedo with self-containedmeans whereby it may be held in engagement with the head of a rail;while a further object is to mount the detonating part of a torpedo in anonmetallic rail-engaging element or member. To this end, one feature ofmy invention consists in providing a torpedo with a socalled sucker orvacuum cup, made of rubber or similar material, whereby such torpedo maybe held to the rail without the use of the usual metal securing straps.In some instances the sucker or vacuum cup may be provided with a tackyor sticky substance whereby its adhesion to the rail will be as sisted,and in other instances the tacky or sticky substance may be used aloneas the means for securing a torpedo to the head of a rail.

These and other features of my invention are more fully describedhereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a sectional view of a rail-head showing one manner ofsecuring a torpedo thereto within the scope of my invention;

Fig. 2, is a sectional view illustrating a modified form of attachingdevice;

Fig. 3, is a sectional view illustrating another form of torpedo;

Figs. 4 and 5, are sectional views of other forms of torpedo securingdevices;

Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7, is a perspective view illustrating another form of torpedowithin the scope of my invention.

The sucker or vacuum which I employ as the means for securing thetorpedo to the head of a rail is preferably made of rubber, although itis obvious that any suitable material may be employed, and it is moldedsubstantially to the shape shown in Fig. 1, wherein, however, the vacuumcup is shown slightly depressed in the position that it will assume whenapplied to the head of a rail. The vacuum cup, indicated at 1, ispreferably provided with a cavity 2 on the upper side which is adaptedto receive a body of detonating material 3. This may be in the form of apressed or shaped cake, preferably with a convex upper surfacefacilitating crushing engagement by the wheel of an engine or train, orit may be of any other shape so long as the sucker or vacuum cup withwhich it is combined is of a practical type, which means, relativelyspeaking, that its rail-engaging portion should be substantially nnularin outline or contour.

If desired, the detonating material may be loose and confined by asuitable bag, wrapper or other container, as may be desired,

and in all instances such detonating matein Fig. 2, I have shown a formof structure in which this partition or diaphragm is centrallyapertured, as indicated at 5. The contact of the annular flange or wallof the sucker with the torpedo body will be substantially air-tight andinsure proper operation of the sucker or vacuum cup and its adherence tothe rail head.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a form of my invention in which the detonatingmaterial, whether in the form of a shaped cake or provide the sucker orvacuum cup with loose, is inclosed in a wrapper 6 of substanuse of avacuum cup of rubber or similar tially Waterproof material, which may besesuitable material for the purpose of holding cured together in anysuitable manner, and a track torpedo to a rail is the fact that thistorpedo package may be secured to upon explosion the holder will besubstanthe sucker or vacuum cup by the aid of tially entirely destroyedor, if not actually glue or other'adhesive as indicated at 7 Indestroyed, any flying parts are incapable of such instance, the vacuumcup preferably causing any damage whatever. In the case has a recessedupper portion to receive the of a torpedo secured to the head of a railtorpedo package, but in view of the usenhy an adhesive, of course all ofthe torpedo of the adhesive material, there is no neceswould bedestroyed in the explosion thereof. sity for the flange of the vacuumcup to I claim:

actually overlie the edge of the torpedo 1; The combination, in a tracktorpedo, of package. a body of detonating material, and a recep- It will'beunderstood, of course, that'it is tacle therefor having a vacuum cupsecuring not essential that the size of the sucker or portion.vacuum'cup equal that of the torpedo, and 2'. The combination, in atrack torpedo, of: in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have shown an arrangea body ofdetonating material, and a vacument in which the sucker part is relaumcup associated therewith whereby the tiVely Smallerthan the torpedo orbody of detonating material may be held in position detonating material.In the form or aron the head of a rail. rangement shown inFig. 4c, acup-like re- 3. A track torpedo comprising a vacuum ceptacle 2 isprovided forthe torpedo, as in cup having a recessed head, and a body ofthe structure illustrated in Fig. 1, while in detonating materialfilling the recess in said theform of structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6,head.

I provide an integral strap or band 8 carried 4. A track torpedocomprising a recepby'the sucker portion, which strap or band tacle, abody of detonating material fitted encircles the body of the torpedo;such arwithin said receptacle, and an annular flange rangement beingmore clearly shown in the surrounding a recessed portion thereof andperspective view, Fig. 6. forming a vacuum cup whereby the torpedo Insome instances, it may be desirable to may be held to the head of arail.

5. A track torpedo comprising a recepsome form of sticky or tackymaterial which tacle of rubber, a body of detonating matewill assist incausing adherence to the head rial fitted within said receptacle, and anof a -rail, and I have shown a portion of annular flange surrounding arecessed porthe surface of the structure of Fig. 4: protion thereof andforming a vacuum cup vided with a sticky or tacky coating 9, whichwhereby the torpedo may be held to the head will be of any suitablematerial relatively of a rail.

non-drying in character. Before being put 6. A vacuum cup adapted toreceive and into use, the sticky or tacky coating on the support a tracktorpedo; said vacuum cup surface of the vacuum cup should be propbeingprovided with a sticky substance upon erly protected by a removablecovering. the engaging portion thereof.

In Fig. 7, I have shown another form of 7. A vacuum cup adapted toreceive and torpedo, which consists simply of a torpedo support thedetonating portion of a track body 8 of detonating material, with ortorpedo; said vacuum cup being provided without a covering, one surfaceof which with a sticky substance upon the engaging has beeen renderedsticky by the application portion thereof. of a suitable adhesive 9; thesame being 8. Asanew article of manufacture,atrack protected by aremovable cover 10. torpedo comprising a partition or diaphragm Themanner of employing a sucker or having an annular wall or flange whichvacuum cup such as I propose forsecuring forms with the partition ordiaphragm a a torpedo to the head of a rail is too well concavity orrecess to provide a vacuum cup known to require explanation, and it willwhereby such structure may be secured to be understood, of course, thatit will be adthe head of a rail, and a body of detonating vantageous toslightly wet the edges of the material permanently associated with thevacuum cup or sucker before it is applied vacuum cup structure. to thehead of a rail. 9. As a new article of manufacture, a track s may bewell understood, the torpedo torpedo comprising a substantially centralor body of detonating material may be of partition or diaphragm, annularwalls or any shape desired, since its combination or flanges surroundingsaid central partition or attachment to a carrier structure with adiaphragm on opposite sides thereof and vacuum cup of the usual circulartype is a forming therewith concavities or recesses, simplematteri oneof which provides a vacuum cup An important point in connection with thewhereby such structure may be secured to the head of a rail, and a bodyof detonating material secured in the opposite recess.

10. As a neW article of manufacture, a body of resilient or flexiblematerial com- 5 prising a substantially central partition or diaphragm,annular Walls or flanges surrounding said central partition or diaphragmon opposite sides thereof and forming therewith concavities or recesses,one of which provides a vacuum cup whereby such structure may be securedto the head of a rail, and a body of detonating material secured in theopposite recess.

HUGH WILLIAMSON KELLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

